Best and worst washing powders and laundry detergents

Using the very best laundry detergents means your laundry will emerge from the machine spotless, with whites pristine and colours vibrant. 

No one else tests as thoroughly as we do. Our independent lab tests mimic the everyday dirt and stains you get on your clothes and linen, so you can be confident that Best Buy laundry detergents really will get your grubbiest washing clean. 

We put 33 bio and non-bio washing powders, liquids and capsules through our tough cleaning tests so we can reveal the best – as well as the worst. Our latest tests included brands such as Ariel, Ecover and Persil, plus own-brand detergents from Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons supermarkets.

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What type of laundry detergent is best?

For the best results, it's worth considering buying different types of detergent to tackle different laundry loads, as powders, liquid detergents and capsules each have their own strengths. Use our handy guide below, based on our extensive experience testing laundry detergents, to decide what you need.

• Liquid and gel detergents – keeps colours bright, but not always great at keeping whites pristine.
• Capsule detergent – great for speed and convenience, but can struggle with heavily soiled clothes.
• Powder detergent – great for extra bright whites and heavily soiled items, but tends to fade coloured fabrics.

Before you buy, make sure you check our test results for individual products below, as choosing the wrong brand could mean that you don't get the cleaning power you were after, whichever type you choose.

Discover the key differences between bio and non-bio washing powders. 

And what about green brands? We dug into the sustainability details on brands including Ecover, Smol, Method and Bio-D.

Laundry detergent test results

Our results may surprise you – the most expensive cleaning products aren't always the best. And as we reveal which laundry detergents are the best value, we can help you save money.

Which? members can log in to unlock the tables below and see the full results of our laboratory tests for bio and non-bio washing powders, capsules and liquid capsules.

If you’re not yet a member, join Which? for instant access to all the reviews on our website.

Best liquid and gel laundry detergents

Best laundry capsules

Best washing powders

Finding the best washing detergent

Once you know what type of detergent is best for your laundry load, it can still be daunting when you're faced with stacked supermarket shelves. Which? recommendations can help you find one that will remove stains with minimal strain. 

Top-scoring laundry detergents that achieve 73% or higher earn our Best Buy recommendation. Laundry detergents that score 45% or less are highlighted as Don't Buy detergents to avoid.

Great Value products are a selection of the cheapest products per wash that score 60% or above. Which? recommends these as a good choice for those who want to spend less, without sacrificing too much in the way of performance.

An Eco Buy needs to be better for the environment than alternatives on the market, and it needs to perform well at its core job, so Eco Buy products must have a minimum overall score of 68% plus four stars for sustainability.

Learn more about how choosing a Which? Eco Buy can save you money and benefit the environment. 

Save money on laundry detergent

Use our results to save money by switching from a pricey branded detergent to a great-value own brand that doesn't compromise on cleaning power.

Switching from a big brand laundry powder to a cheaper Best Buy could save you almost £30 a year. You can also save as much as £8 on liquid capsules and £54 on liquid or gel by switching from the highest-scoring brand to a Great Value alternative.

Find out how you can cut your laundry costs by £151 this year.

For more ways to keep your household running smoothly, sign up for our Home newsletter – it's free monthly.